Great! I'm 47, with a 30 year injury. I drink hot tea and water
during the winter.. I'm a C3-4 quad. I don't drink soda. I wear
leg warmers now. However, I'm a guy, so it goes both ways. Now,
I've had heat exhaustion soooo many times that my thermostat is so
screwed up beyond my post injury state that just ice water won't cut
it for me in the hot summer.
Craig
On Mar 16, 2009, at 4:48 PM, Julie wrote:
Hey Girls!
I just had to chime in because you two sound like carbon copies of
me....right down to the hot water. I'm 44yrs old & have been a C
5-6 quad for 29 years. It's kinda nice to know I'm somewhat
normal! :-)
Julie
From: Lori Taylor [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 12:42 PM
To: [email protected]; Lori Michaelson
Subject: LORI Michaelson...Re: [QUAD-L] Hypothermia
Hey Lori,
Yes, I'm new on this site! Looks like we have a lot more in common
than just our names... I'm a 30 year post injury 46 year old. My
injury level is C3-4/5-6, though. I wanted to add one thing that
works for me & covers v2 discussions on here right now. Not only do
I drink hot water during the winter, at night, I drink about a quart
of chamomille tea for several reasons. 1.) It continues to keep me
warm; 2.) It .
I've really been thinking about starting a 'support group' in a
local rehab here in Arlington, Tx. So, I did a 'search on SCI
support groups & that's how I found this site!! Whoever founded
this site... CUDOS TO YOU! This has given me lots of ideas on how
to facilitate a group. ............
--- On Fri, 3/13/09, Lori Michaelson <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Lori Michaelson <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Hypothermia
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Date: Friday, March 13, 2009, 6:58 PM
Wow Lori!
You chose to do exactly what I did starting in the 1980s when I
lived in New York state! Firstly, you must be one of the many
lurkers on the list and I did not know there was another Lori
(spelled the same way!). So hello Lori!
Soon after I came home from the hospital I used to drink "weak" tea
but since I felt jittery sometimes I thought it might be the tea.
Therefore, because I drank it so very weak -- I thought I might just
as well drink HOT WATER! Like you! Hitherto I have not seen or
heard of another quadriplegic mention this. LOL. And of course I
find that it helps! Because, even down here in the very hot part of
the summer in Arizona or other warmer times -- if I even drink a few
swallows of something very cold or iced -- it cools me down almost
instantaneously. *shiver*
On the positive side down here -- I am now able to have my big drink
junk filled with semi-cool water that comes out of the refrigerator
(purified a little with a filter) and then it pretty much stays room
temperature all day long and have not needed my daytime drink of
water heated in the microwave (like I used to in the Northeast) all
the time. No matter what, it seems after 4 p.m. *I* start feeling
cooler inside. Pretty weird. So sometimes an evening if it gets
too bad I will either drink decaffeinated tea (weak) or hot cocoa to
get warmed up and for a little break of drinking water all day
long. But I do not drink it because I am thirsty--I drink it
because I am warm and it warms me up!
99.99999999999999999% of the people I know like to drink soda or
something else but I never liked soda (even before my accident/
injury) so I always drank water prior to my injury also.
When I went to college in New York State and had to travel from
building to building outdoors (sometimes quite a ways apart) in
fgreezing temperatures -- I had to wear long underwear, turtlenecks,
sweaters and heavy jackets/coats. Back then those LEG WARMERS with
Jeans were popular so I wore those too. I have no idea now how I
did that (traveled from building to building in the blustery cold)
but I am here to tell about it. LOL.
My ears and neck get the coldest the easiest as well too. So I wore
ear muffs back then and they were fortunately popular back then as
they are now I think.
Nice to see another female quadriplegic on the list as we are few
and far between compared to the males!
Lori Michaelson
Age - 44
C4/5 complete quad, 29 years post
Tucson, AZ
On Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 2:58 PM, Lori Taylor <[email protected]>
wrote:
Hi Raymond,
While I may not have a degree to tell me hypothermia & quadriplegia
go hand in hand, I do have 30 years of being a quad as my
experience. And, yes, it has gotten worse over the years. My ears
and neck are the areas that get coldest. Unfortunately, I can't
just call it cold b/c I get down right miserable. So, I have
resolved to have warmth over fashion!! I wear a turtleneck from
around Sept. to around April. I wore ear muffs for years. But, I
wear hooded sweatshirts most days. I have let my hair grow so it
covers my ears. As we all know, we're supposed to drink lots of
water, right? Well, the last thing I want in the dead of winter is
a glass of water or anything else that will make me cold!! So, call
me crazy, I drink HOT water. Yes, it takes some getting used to.
It works, though. While preparing to go somewhere, I'll get as much
hot water in me as I can. It's like warming from the inside out!
Most restaurants don't mind, I'll ask for them to fill my cup (I
carry a 32 oz. cup w/me at all times) w/the hot water they use to
make hot tea. I choose to drink the water over coffee, tea, hot
chocolate, etc. b/c of the caffiene & calories.......really don't
need any extra!
At night, I use a heated blanket. But, found that wasn't even
enough. So, I discovered those 'herbal packs' that can be heated in
the microwave, put them behind my neck, & use them faithfully. Last
& probably the most important for me, my attendant will put a big
towel in the dryer while getting me in bed. After heating the pack,
he gets the towel & wraps it around my ears & face. I can't say
it's attractive but it's warm! Those 3 things...electric blanket,
herbal pack, & hot towel, feel soooo good after being cold all
day!! I also turn the blanket on high in the morning for awhile
before getting up.
This may be more info than you were looking for. But, if you're
like me, I absolutely HATE being cold/miserable. Hope this helps.
~Lori
--- On Fri, 3/13/09, Raymond Kelly <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Raymond Kelly <[email protected]>
Subject: [QUAD-L] Hypothermia
To: "Quad-list" <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, March 13, 2009, 3:59 PM
I doubt anybody has an answer to this being it is part of being a
quadriplegic. Anyway I have been a quadriplegic for almost 16 years
now. It seems that every year it is harder to keep warm. I
remember the first year I was hurt I wore shorts and tank tops all
summer just to stay cool. Now after being a quad this long this
long I end up wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt most of the summer
just to stay warm. During the winter I wear sweatpants, two thermal
shirts, a sweatshirt, a knit hat and have a blanket on me just to
stay in the house. that doesn't even keep me warm. Even with all
that and the house being about 73° I still have trouble keeping my
temperature above 95°.
It would be great if somebody on here had a miracle way to help
this. I guess I am wondering if this is a typical quadriplegic
problem for it to get worse every year. If it is it would be
interesting to hear how other people cope with this.
--
Lori
C4/5 complete quad, 27 years post
Tucson, AZ
